Response Park Board Regular Meeting Monday, May 11, 2020 Purpose - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Park Board Regular Meeting Monday, May 11, 2020

Parks & Recreation Response COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose of Presentation

The purpose of this presentation is to:

• provide an update on the COVID-19 pandemic impacts to Parks &

Recreation;

• utline the operational measures implemented in response (to date);
• review the preliminary impact to 2020 budget; and
• to provide a roadmap for reopening & recovery.

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Outline

• Background
• Service Impacts
• Communications & Engagement
• 2020 Budget Impacts
• Reopening & Recovery Strategy
• Q&A and Discussion

Background

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Background

Dec 31/19 - Novel coronavirus detected in China reported to World Health Organization (WHO); Jan 30/20 - WHO declared coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern; Feb 11/20 - WHO announced COVID-19 as name for the new coronavirus disease; Mar 09/20 - City of Vancouver activated Emergency Operations Centre (EOC); Mar 11/20 - WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic due to alarming levels of spread and severity; Mar 17/20 - Province of BC declared Public Health State of Emergency; Mar 19/20 - CoV passes State of Emergency By-Law 12661

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Background

• BC Provincial orders impacting Park Board operations include:
• gatherings in excess of 50 people are prohibited (expires May 30);
• restaurants restricted to take-out services only (no dine-in service);
• Parks & Open Spaces and Marinas classified as essential services;
• Board meetings can be held electronically; are not required to allow

members of the public to attend in person.

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Background

• Through adherence to health orders and physical distancing measures, BC

has made good progress in flattening the curve of infections. Total number of cases as of May 11

• Global: Cases 4.15M, Deaths 284K, Recovered 1.43M
• Canada: Cases 69,911, Deaths 4992, Recovered 32,664
• BC: Cases 2330, Deaths 129, Recovered 1,659

Service Impacts

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Service Impacts - Overview

A summary of the internal and external service impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will be presented across the following Park Board service groups:

• Parks & Open Spaces
• Recreation Services
• Planning & Park Development
• Business Services
• General Manager’s Office, Board & Support Services

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the following actions have been taken:

• reduction in services to adhere to provincial orders;
• modification of safe work procedures at sites providing essential services;
• transitioned to mobile workforce where possible (work from home);
• facility & parking lot closures;
• road & park access restrictions;
• special event & filming permit cancellations;
• park use monitoring & surveys;
• employee lay-offs, mandatory furlough, & hiring freeze to reduce operating costs;
• participation in the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC);
• enhanced communication across all channels.

Service Impacts - Summary

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Service Impacts - Parks & Open Spaces

Graphics & Design Shop

• Created nearly 8,500 COVID-19 related signs;
• Servicing all of Parks & Recreation, along with

several other CoV groups including:

• Engineering;
• Mountain View Cemetery;
• Real Estate & Facilities Mgmt;
• Human Resources;
• Emergency Operations Centre.

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Service Impacts - Parks & Open Spaces

Park Operations

• Installed 1000 closure signs;
• Closed playgrounds, skate parks, sport courts,
• utdoor recreation amenities;
• Removed beach logs
• Closed lots & installed 24 double parking lot gates.

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Park Rangers

• Doubled staffing levels from 10 to 20 Rangers per

day;

• Monitoring for compliance with public heath orders

related to gatherings and safe distancing;

• Focusing service on DTES, seawall, beaches,

Stanley Park, and downtown parks;

• 11079 warnings for physical distancing; 1880 issued

this past weekend

Service Impacts - Parks & Open Spaces

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Park Experience Team (washrooms & janitorial)

• 100+ park washrooms open as essential service;

experiencing high volume as the only public washrooms available in many areas;

• Added twice daily surface sanitation cleaning using

recommended cleaning solution (QUAT);

Service Impacts - Parks & Open Spaces

• Implemented high season staffing 2 months

early (March);

• Provided personal protective equipment

(PPE) to all crews and limited to one staff person per vehicle;

• Sourced hand-wash station for

Oppenheimer Park.

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Golf Services - Closure

• Closed the Park Board’s full-size golf courses (3), clubhouses, and pitch &

putts (3) on March 17;

• Courses temporarily opened for community access to additional green space;

Service Impacts - Parks & Open Spaces

• Langara golf clubhouse repurposed to

provide food hampers to DTES residents;

• 15 golf clubhouse staff redeployed;
• Nearly 15,000 meals prepared per

week.

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Stanley Park Road Reallocation Work

• Implemented closure of public vehicle access to Stanley Park on April 8;
• in collaboration & consultation with Park Planning, Communications, CoV Traffic

Management (Engineering), Emergency Services, and park stakeholders;

• Ranger check-points established at key access points, with additional signage

developed and installed at entrances and throughout the park.

Service Impacts - Parks & Open Spaces

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Stanley Park Road Reallocation Work

• Cyclists diverted to roadways to create more space on seawall for pedestrian

traffic;

Service Impacts - Parks & Open Spaces

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Destination Attractions - Closures

• Bloedel Conservatory, Stanley Park Train

& Info Booth, and VanDusen Botanical Gardens closed in March;

Service Impacts - Parks & Open Spaces

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Community Centres & Field sports

• all community centres, pools, rinks & fitness centres closed; programs and
• utdoor field sports permits cancelled (through May 30);
• refunds are still underway, with the majority already processed;
• Coal Harbour & Roundhouse community centres re-activated as Emergency

COVID-19 self-isolation sites;

• Ray-Cam currently providing essential childcare services for the community;
• Creekside providing childcare services for essential service workers (via a

third party operator);

• Britannia operating a “food store” for the local community & providing
• utreach for vulnerable populations.

Service Impacts – Recreation Services

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Park Board Champions

• Pilot program launched to address ongoing concerns around compliance with

physical distancing, particularly at popular locations during good weather;

• 75 recreation programmers were re-assigned to educate and promote physical

distancing at busy beaches, parks and along the seawall;

• currently working with the EOC Redeployment office to continue staffing this

public awareness program

Service Impacts – Recreation Services

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Community Engagement & Outreach

• Providing community outreach with vulnerable populations (youth, families &

seniors) by offering wellness check-ins over the phone;

• Completed close to 700 senior & 180 youth wellness checks;
• Developing fitness classes & resources to offer online;
• Arts, Culture & Engagement team continuing to work on Fieldhouse Activation

Program and with EOC Community Resilience Team to develop creative ways to activate DTES parks and promote physical distancing.

Service Impacts – Recreation Services

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Capital Plan Delivery

• Reviewed impacts to Capital Plan due to engagement restrictions;
• Continuing to advance active planning and park development projects.

COVID-19 Specific Planning Tasks

• Collaborated with Park Operations, Communications, and CoV Engineering

in planning & implementing Stanley Park Closure to vehicle traffic;

• Developed a Queen Elizabeth Park Traffic Management Plan;
• Undertaking park user surveying in coordination with Recreation & Park

Operations around physical distancing and other required measures;

• Supporting Parks & Recreation Re-opening & Recovery Plan.

Service Impacts – Planning & Park Development

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Parks Physical Distancing Data Collection

• Groups are mostly young adults (70% or more)
• People are obviously attempting to distance when sitting in the park but

are not quite sitting 2m apart

• Fields are very well used as passive open space
• Looped trails are incredibly valuable
• Big increase in people using parks for exercise
• We’ve been able to reduce “pinch-points” from being observed at 41% to

30% - within a week through direct action

Service Impacts – Planning & Park Development

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Parks Physical Distancing Data Collection

Service Impacts – Planning & Park Development

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%

• Approx. average rate of physical distancing observed

Average observed physical distancing over the course of observations as been around 80%

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• Special Events & Filming
• Special events & filming permits cancelled through May 30, except farmers

markets (essential service);

• Event organizers are reviewing feasibility of 2020 events due to current public

health directives and expectations over summer months; to date:

• Major events – 39 cancellations; 6 postponements; 57 events still reviewing/

determining next steps;

• Minor events & other activities (includes community events, weddings, picnics,

etc.) – 97% and 89% cancelled in April and May, respectively;

• Motion Picture Filming – 75% reduction in March; 100% reduction in April &

May, respectively.

Service Impacts – Business Services

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• Concessions
• 13 Concession openings delayed – typically open in April/May for summer

season;

• Marinas
• Heather and Burrard Civic Marinas remain open to members;
• Parking
• All 13 pay parking lots were closed to discourage gatherings and people

travelling in groups to destination parks & beaches;

• Lease Management
• Work on over 1000+ active agreements being conducted remotely.

Service Impacts – Business Services

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• General Manager’s Office
• Scheduled daily briefing calls with Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to

coordinate COVID-19 response;

• SLT members & staff deployed to EOC to provide leadership & support.
• Park Board Commissioners
• Commissioners receiving regular staff briefing via teleconference & memo;
• Park Board public meetings resuming electronically, with public participation

via teleconference (PB Admin building closed to the public);

• Administrative & Corporate Services
• Processed $3,401,298.99 in refunds from 69,598 transactions
• HR, Payroll, Procurement & other Financial services provided remotely.

Service Impacts – GMO, Board & Support Services

Communications & Awareness

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Communication Campaign - Public Awareness

• Initiated a broad public awareness campaign on physical distancing in parks

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Communication Campaign: Digital and Social Media

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Communication Campaign: Brand

• Brand campaign executed on social and traditional media with launch of

The Distance Between Us Will Hold Us Together creative on March 26

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Communicating With Video: Many Voices, One Message

Created short videos for social media campaign featuring the Canucks, Commissioners, and GM Malcolm Bromley

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Communication Campaign: Media Relations

• Leveraged reach of regional and international media to spread the word

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Communication: Earned Media

• Media pitches and earned media coverage of Park Board response

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Communication: Demonstrating Our Community Support

• Honouring our #healthcareheroes: 7pm Gun Salute, Bloedel Lights Up Blue,

and @VanParkGM Balcony Cheers

2020 Budget and Staffing Impacts

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2020 Operating Budget – - CoV

• In order to assess the financial impact of Covid-19 on COV budget several

financial scenarios were developed

• On April 14, 2020, Council received a report detailing 3 different financial

scenarios – from these Scenarios it was agreed to use Scenario 2 for purposes of planning mitigation strategies

• Scenario 2 assumptions included:
• $152M revenue reduction (Park Board $40M - $36M Program Fees & Rentals,

$4M Parking)

• Physical distancing restrictions are lifted end of August and there is a six week

recovery period

• $111M shortfall predicted after mitigation strategies are applied (includes $11M of

provincial funding support for DTES)

Operating Budget Impact – CoV

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2020 Operating Budget – Parks and Recreation – Operating Budget Impact

Park Board Revenues Budget Scen 2 Var Program Fees 42.1 7.6 (34.5) Parking 8.3 4.3 (4.0) Rental, Lease & Other 7.9 6.1 (1.8) Cost Recoveries, Grants & Donations 5.1 5.3 0.2 Total Revenues 63.5 23.4 (40.1) Program Fee Breakdown Recreation revenue 20.4 4.4 (16.0) Golf 9.9 0.7 (9.2) VanDusen Botanical Gardens 4.4 1.5 (2.9) Concession 3.4 0.1 (3.2) Stanley Park Train 2.1 0.6 (1.5) Event permits & other revenue 1.1 0.2 (1.0) Bloedel Conservatory 0.8 0.2 (0.7) Program Fees - Total 42.2 7.6 (34.5)

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• The operating budget shortfall projected in 2020 has had the following impacts

to Park Board staffing:

• Over 850 temporary layoffs of union employees
• Employees are guaranteed 6 weeks of pay protection
• 10% salary reduction and furlough program for all exempt staff (until at least Dec 2020)
• A redeployment office has been created to re-assign staff to essential services:
• Clubhouse staff (~15) - 1,500 food hampers/week @ Langara for City and community
• rganizations who support homeless and non market housing residents
• Recreation Programmers (~40) - Park Champion program to support physical

distancing

• Hiring freeze continues

Parks & Recreation – Staffing Impacts

Reopening & Recovery Strategy

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Reopening & Recovery Framework (DRAFT)

• Park Board’s principles of

decolonization ask for an approach that is: Transparent, equitable and centred on community health and wellness.

• Responding to COVID-19,

requires a focus on: Safety for staff and the public, financial sustainability and

• perational feasibility

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Reopening & Recovery Framework (DRAFT)

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• Following the Provincial guidance

for Risk-based Decision-making

• Develop physical and behavioural

modifications to reduce risk

Reopening & Recovery Framework (DRAFT)

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• Plan for reopening based on science,

feedback on behaviour and opportunity for modifications

• Consider community need, equity and

transparency as decisions are made and shared

• Work closely with the City, partners,

stakeholders and industry organizations

• Ensure operational and financial

feasibility are reflected in plans.

Reopening & Recovery Framework (DRAFT)

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Phased Opening considers reopening protocols:

1. Outdoor facilities with limited participants and no or limited shared equipment and low financial and

• perational barriers.

2. Outdoor spaces with typically more contact or sharing of equipment, or those with financial or operational challenges. 3. Indoor spaces with potential to follow health measures. 4. Indoor facilities/spaces requiring extended lead time to comply with health orders.

Reopening & Recovery Framework (DRAFT)

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Golf Services - Reopened

• Implemented modified operating and play protocols to ensure safe physical

distancing; reopened Fraserview/McCleery May 1 (Langara May 15):

• Online bookings only; reduced tee times; onsite contactless pay;
• Golf Shop access limited to 2 patrons at a time;
• Food and beverage services remain closed;
• Single rider cart policy; all carts sanitized in a designated area between use;
• Frequent touch points removed & cup fillers added so flag sticks are not

touched;

• Physical distancing standing circles painted on the cart paths at every tee box

area.

Reopening & Recovery - Parks & Open Spaces

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Golf Services - Reopened

Reopening & Recovery - Parks & Open Spaces

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Golf Services – Reopening

• Fully booked all week at Fraserview & McCleery;
• Fully booked through opening week-end at Langara;
• Roughly 90% of rounds were secured through advance-booking rules; fee

charged per golfer to book outside 5 day booking window;

• Revenues generated during opening weekend at Fraserview & McCleery

approximated $64,300; roughly $52,100 related to green fees, $12,200 from advanced booking fees;

• Advanced bookings have been made to secure roughly 50% of all available

tee times

Reopening & Recovery - Parks & Open Spaces

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Golf Services – Reopening Observations

• Positive feedback from staff and patrons with respect to measures and the

impact on maintaining social distancing;

• No line-ups were noted, and all patrons were very polite and understanding of

the changes;

• No reports of non-compliance with social distancing requirements;

Reopening & Recovery - Parks & Open Spaces

• Many did note that they felt

spacing between tee times was very cautious, and that spacing could be reduced without effecting the ability to social distance;

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Destination Attractions – VanDusen Reopened

• VanDusen Botanical Garden reopened on Friday, May 1 with new safety

protocols including:

Reopening & Recovery - Parks & Open Spaces

• online ticket reservations; limited capacity by

controlling entry times offered;

• contactless scanning & entry;
• enhanced washroom cleaning & new handwashing

stations near portable washrooms in the garden;

• new signage, one-way routes & ground markers;

and

• only one household at a time in the maze.

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• Re-opening went very smoothly; no lineups of more

than 4-5 households at a time;

• 600+ members on opening weekend (100% of member

capacity); 900+ paid visitors (90% of visitor capacity);

typical May weekend = 2,000-3,000 visitors;

• 6,500+ visitor tickets & 8,000+ member reservations

booked to date;

• positive response from onsite visitors and via social

media;

• Staff continue to monitor and manage capacity based
• n the entry line-up and flow through the Visitor Centre

and garden;

Reopening & Recovery - Parks & Open Spaces

Destination Attractions – VanDusen Reopened

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• New guidelines include:
• Keep 2 metres apart at all times
• Limit play to singles, or doubles play with partners from the same household
• Queue outside the courts and maintain 2 metres distance when courts are in use
• Do not share racquets or other equipment (for pickleball, bring your own net)
• Clearly mark your ball and refrain from picking up others’ tennis or pickleballs
• Casual game play only: no lessons or league play allowed
• Remain courteous and limit play time to 30 mins when others are waiting
• Please leave the courts immediately after play is finished

Reopening & Recovery - Recreation Services

Tennis & Pickleball Outdoor Courts – Reopened as of May 10th

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Stanley Park Road Reallocation Working Group

• Continue to see high level of use;
• Well integrated with closure of Beach Ave;
• Staff evaluating future options for Park Drive as well as West end waterfront Master

plan;

Reopening & Recovery – Planning & Park Development

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Stanley Park Road Reallocation Working Group

Reopening & Recovery – Planning & Park Development

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Parking

• Currently assessing plans and timing to re-open parking lots.

Concessions

• Kitsilano Beach Concession at Boathouse Restaurant opened on a trial basis
• n April 23; monitoring for viability;
• Currently assessing feasibility of re-opening concessions at select locations

with modified operation protocols to ensure safe physical distancing & food handling can be maintained.

Reopening & Recovery - Business Services

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• Continue to develop Park Board re-opening and recovery plans
• Prioritize services to be re-opened
• Consult with key stakeholders
• Address the operating funding gap through exploring opportunities to restart

revenue generating businesses, and scaling back spend to essential spending

• nly;
• Assess impacts to Capital budget and Capital plan;
• Assess impacts to Service Plan;
• Regular Board updates

Reopening & Recovery – Next Steps

Q&A

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